The notion that a Christian cannot fall from grace is held by many people in the religious world. But this “once saved, always saved” doctrine is simply not true. The Bible is filled with warnings about falling away and examples of God’s people who have.
Tim Haile has put together a thorough study on this topic, examining several passages to demonstrate that a Christian can indeed fall away and be lost and that we must therefore be diligent to remain faithful to God. Below is an excerpt of his study:
It is easy to see why the once-saved-always-saved doctrine is so popular and appealing: If true, no believer would ever need to be concerned about his behavior, regardless of how godless, sinful or inhumane that behavior might be. Some proponents of the can’t-fall-away theory have argued that they could die “in the very act of sin,” including the act of cold-blooded murder, and still be guaranteed a place in heaven. We are told that salvation is guaranteed to the believer even in the absence of any repentance or remorse on his part for the sins that he has committed. This is not what the Bible teaches.
While I grant that the notion of eternal security is indeed comforting, this comfort is based upon a lie. It provides a false hope. Just feeling good about a theory does not make it fact. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). In the spiritual realm we must look to God’s word in order to determine the legitimacy of ideas. We must “prove all things and hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). The Bible repeatedly teaches and demonstrates that it is possible for a child of God to conduct himself in such a way that he loses his salvation. Paul said, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1). Though a coming apostasy was the subject of explicit affirmation by the Holy Spirit, yet some religionists affirm that such a condition “is not possible.” This claim directly contradicts the Scriptures. Will we accept the “explicit” affirmations of the Holy Spirit, such as recorded by the apostle Paul, or will we accept the claims of mere men?
I encourage you to read the rest of his article — The Possibility of Apostasy. The passages he discusses provide valuable reminders for us and can be used to teach others who do not yet believe the truth on this subject.
